Amaravati, April 7 – Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday condemned the attempt by YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) workers to attack the office of a Telugu media outlet in Hyderabad.
The Chief Minister described the incident as a direct assault on media freedom.
He said that the attack was carried out because the media outlet had questioned the stance of former Chief Minister and YSRCP Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy on Amaravati.
In a statement, Chandrababu Naidu criticised the YSRCP for allegedly misusing its own media platforms while resorting to baseless allegations and abusive rhetoric against independent media organizations.
He noted that despite facing harassment and conspiracies during the previous five years of the YSRCP government, the regional media channel continued to function without fear.
He remarked that the participation of sitting MLAs and former Ministers, accompanied by mobs in targeting a media office, is a clear reflection of the YSRCP's unruly culture.
The Chief Minister also praised the regional media outlet's Managing Director Vemuri Radhakrishna for running the newspaper and channel fearlessly for decades despite facing cases, attacks and sustained pressure.
Chandrababu Naidu asserted that attempts to intimidate the media through attacks, protests and threats have no place in a democratic society and such political tactics have become outdated.
He also alleged that the people, especially women, have not forgotten the conduct of YSRCP leaders, including their treatment of women and even their own family members during their tenure in power.
The Chief Minister accused the YSRCP of resorting to diversionary politics, saying that instead of responding to the editorial questioning on its alleged conspiracies against Amaravati, the party has chosen to engage in attacks and protests.
The YSRCP on Monday had lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting against the media outlet for allegedly broadcasting defamatory and derogatory content.
In a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar on Monday, YSRCP MLC and party's general secretary Lella Appireddy sought immediate intervention and appropriate action against the media outlet, its anchor, editor, and management for allegedly broadcasting defamatory, derogatory, misleading, and unethical content through its electronic and digital platforms.
The MLC cited allegedly objectionable and defamatory language used by the news anchor while describing members and supporters of the YSRCP.
The YSRCP quoted the news anchor as saying that party supporters would "blindly believe" anything said by Jagan Mohan Reddy and used language the party described as abusive and derogatory.